Figured I would share this with everyone just so people can figure out what shipping costs for the flat rate boxes are going to be for the year.

why does it say 1 Day? I thought priority was 3 day?

Thanks for posting this Jen. We do all depend on our flat rate boxes!!

I have some flat rate boxes in the shed, from 2 years ago, hope I can still use them. Seems they are always changing the rates and of course even though gas prices have went down considerably compared to what they were a few years ago, the postage keeps going up. If I remember right that was there big excuse to raise them ... fuel cost increased.


btw Boxergirl, love your haircolor in your pic

Frillylily said:why does it say 1 Day? I thought priority was 3 day?

Just happened to be where I was shipping to was only going to be a one day. It's all the same price for the boxes some just arrive in 2 or 3 days.

Frillylily said:I have some flat rate boxes in the shed, from 2 years ago, hope I can still use them. Seems they are always changing the rates and of course even though gas prices have went down considerably compared to what they were a few years ago, the postage keeps going up. If I remember right that was there big excuse to raise them ... fuel cost increased.


btw Boxergirl, love your haircolor in your pic

Thank you! My hair dresser has a good time playing with my hair. Lol

You can still use those boxes. If you have a USPS account you can do it all from home and also schedual a free pick up with your normal mail delivery. Just have to have a printer to print the labels on the boxes. They will also deliver boxes to you if you request them with your next delivery. That way you don't have to spend gas going to the post office to mail them. Just FYI!

Speaking of that fuel surcharge - the current first ounce just went down for the first time in history. From 49¢ to 47 ¢.

I think the price of a regular postage stamp went down a penny, too.

So why does flat-rate go up?

The rates went up a pretty good chunk. And I was trold you don't get the free tracking anymore when you print the label at home.

Blessings

I have a ton of newer flat rate boxes. I walk in the PO and just walk out with them. Deb mentioned a easier method though. Paying for tracking guess y'all be getting surprise shipments then

Funny how the cost of oil changes the prices on so many things when it goes up, but noda when it goes down. Airline tickets are a prime example. Seems the airlines have made a massive amount (many billion$) of money since oil prices went down. And what's with bell peppers? Did Calif. have a crop failure. $2.65 each at Pick and Save, of course they are always a dollar higher there. Woodmans has them for $1.65 each, but still!

Gabriel - If you join on the USPS site, you can order the flat rate boxes & envelopes online and they will bring them to your door. For free!! This year when I ship, I'll have them come to my door to do the pickup as well. Our Post Office is about a 12 mile round trip.

Blessings

It's about an 18 mile round trip for me, when you consider the time of digging, marking, packing and then shipping, it's probably not very cost effective to do the "for postage" boxes, but then it does my heart good to see them getting a good home!

Last year the Medium FRB cost $11.30 with free tracking. This year it's up to $13.95 counting tracking. That's more that a 20% increase. I expect this will put a dent in my sales this year. I mean, I never made a lot, maybe $500 for the season. But that paid for new iris. I'll run a few test auctions on eBay to see how it goes. I would always send plenty of extras with each order but this year I guess I'll have to send even more. I use plants as packing materiel. I got the idea from someone I bought iris from and they used live packing materiel,

Blessings

You think the FRB are costly, it now costs me $9.50 to mail a small padded envelope with daylily seeds across the river to Canada, which is only about l0 miles from me. To mail a small padded envelope to Europe, it is now $13.50 (up from $7 last year) for one ounce or under. Needless to say, most customers will not pay that so I no longer am shipping international except to Canada.

I've got to check into the free tracking, I just did a package last week and it was free when I printed it from home. Hummmmmm I'll check it out this week when a ship a box again.

Sell your packages to each other on eBay for .99. You will get eBay's shipping discount. I sent out a Flat Rate Legal Envelope that will fit a small box inside of it, for $5.49 yesterday. Of course, it really was an eBay sale.

Linnea -- what would Ebay's discount shipping rate be for the three sizes of flat-rate boxes?

Dunno. And it may depend on distance. As I send stuff out this summer, I will keep a watch on it. My season is just starting. I don't heat pack, winter send plants. I bet the African violets will give us the best idea. Most of my herbs and weeds go First Class. Actually, I send most things 13 oz. and under, except glass, First Class. With eBay, I can do First Class on line with free tracking. One can't do that with click'n'ship. 4 skinny New England rhizomes go First Class very easily.

I have Celandine going from Maine to Colorado tomorrow. Here are the price options. First Class is based on 13 oz. It will probably be less for the Celandine.

Compare shipping rates
Flat rate service (to 80920)
Cost
Select a flat-rate service to view size and weight restrictions.
Priority Mail® (1-3 days) - Flat Rate Envelope
$5.60
Priority Mail® (1-3 days) - Small Flat Rate Box
$5.90
Priority Mail® (1-3 days) - Medium Flat Rate Box
$11.60
Priority Mail® (1-3 days) - Large Flat Rate Box
$15.85
Priority Mail® (1-3 days) - Padded Flat Rate Envelope
$5.90
Priority Mail® (1-3 days) - Legal Flat Rate Envelope
$5.60
Priority Mail® (1-3 days) - Regional Box A
$9.70
Priority Mail® (1-3 days) - Regional Box B
$15.14
Priority Mail Express® (1-2 days) - Flat Rate Envelope
$20.05
Priority Mail Express® (1-2 days) - Legal Flat Rate Envelope
$20.05
Calculated services (to 80920)
Cost
Enter dimensions and weight to calculate costs.
Priority Mail® (1-3 days) - Package/Thick Envelope
$6.42
Priority Mail® (1-3 days) - Large Package
$6.42
First Class Package® (2-5 days) - Package/Thick Envelope
$3.50
Up to 16 ounces and 84 inches in combined length and girth.
Parcel Select® (2-9 days) - Package/Thick Envelope
$6.57
Media Mail™ (2-9 days) - Package/Thick Envelope
$2.61
Priority Mail Express® (1-2 days) - Package/Thick Envelope
$31.00